We at last brought into effect
an emergency system for missing children,
The Ananda Alert
The year started with International Superstar
Shaggy
deciding he just couldn't take it anymore. The Bustamante
Hospital for Children was in need and someone should do something
about it and that someone should be him. On 3rd January the first
Shaggy & Friends Concert took place on the lawns of Jamaica House.
The Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation, with the J$27,000,000
raised, was able to buy several
pieces of much needed equipment for the Hospital.
The year was
wonderfully bracketed by Jamaicans reaching the ends of the
Earth. In February, Newton Marshall of
the
Jamaica Dogsled Team took part
in the Yukon Quest, a gruelling 1000 mile dogsled race across
the
Arctic
tundra. On 26th February, Newton crossed the
Finish Line, placing 13th out of 29 starters.
In November, at the other end of
the World, Kim-Marie Spence took part in the
Kaspersky Commonwealth Expedition. As part of the
celebration surrounding the Commonwealth's eightieth
anniversary, eight women from eight Commonwealth countries
set off across
Antarctica
to reach the South Pole.
Unfortunately, on the 22nd November at the start of the
final leg, Kim-Marie was taken out of the expedition due to
extreme frostbite; had she continued she would have lost her
fingers.
In a repeat of the
previous year, this time at the IAAF World Championships
in Berlin, Usain Bolt broke the records (his own) for
both the 100m and 200m men's sprints. As happened the
year before, he stood on the Winner's podium and heard
our National Anthem played followed by Happy Birthday!
Who says lightening doesn't strike twice?
The recession worsened at the
beginning of the year with
the closure and "downsizing" of several bauxite plants putting
hundreds more in the job market. In mid-year SuperPlus, Jamaica's
largest supermarket chain, goes under.
In February King Juan Carlos
and Queen Sophia of Spain visited Jamaica. Among their official
engagements was a tour of the old capital of
Spanish Town.
On February 26th Rev Patrick
Allen was sworn in as Jamaica's sixth Governor General.
Between June and September
there was a flare up of
Swine Flu
(H1N1 virus) supposedly associated
with the heavy summer travel period and children being back in
school.
On April 19th, Stephen Fray, a
diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, somehow managed to slip past
airport security with a firearm at the Donald Sangster
International Airport in Montego Bay and board a CanJet flight.
Commissioner of Police,
Hardley Lewin resigns at the end of October.
Jamaica not left out of bank
scandal: The year was punctuated by the wrangling between former
ScotiaBank Jamaica Managing Director, Bill Clarke, and the
parent company in Ontario, Canada. Clarke is dissatisfied with his
retirement package of C$3.7 million and the case eventually goes to
the Privy Council in the UK.
At the start of November there
was even greater scandal when we heard that the Governor of the Bank
of Jamaica,
Derick Latibeaudiere, had either resigned or been fired
by the PM. The disagreement was over Latibeaudiere's J$38 million
annual package and an unsecured J$51 million mortgage loan.
On 25th September the new
J$5000 note was released into circulation.
Yet, at the end of the year
Jamaica's two largest banks declared billions in profits.
Jamaicans Abroad
In September, The Toronto Police Service
appointed their youngest ever Deputy Chief of Police.
Forty-three year old, Kingston born Peter Sloly.
When the Slolys left Jamaica with their ten
year old son during the 1970s Exodus they would hardly have
expected that he would, after university, join the Toronto
Police in 1988 and ultimately rise to second in command. He is
responsible for Executive Command and oversees several units
which include Professional Standards, Investigative, Risk
Management, Legal Services, Public Information, Crime and
Information Analysis and Records Management.
he has served as Unit Commander, in charge
of Operational Services, Staff Planning and Community
Mobilisation, and has worked in Major Crime, Youth Bureau and
Public Order. In 2001 he was part of the United Nations
Peacekeeping Mission to Kosovo and was a Command Staff Officer
and the Canadian Contingent Commander.
In December Neuroscientists from Harvard
University in the US and the University of Ottawa in Canada
announced that a joint team had made a breakthrough in the
potential treatment of brain and spinal cord injuries. It
appears that, before the age of two, the neurons in a baby's
brain are still growing and connecting. Who was behind
this amazing discovery?
In 1995
Patrice Smith left Westmoreland to join her mother in Canada.
The eighteen year old discovered that CXCs are not recognised
there and had to repeat her final year of high school. This
resulted in a scholarship to the University of Ottawa. A summer
job in the neuroscience lab helped to supplement her expenses.
She then did post-graduate work at Harvard University.
Ryan Peralto, former
politician, whose development of the automated electronic voting
system helped reduce voter fraud. January 23rd at 75. Read the Gleaner Obituary
Lucille Mathurin Mair,
diplomat and champion of women's rights. In 1982 she became the
first woman to be appointed Undersecretary General of the United
Nations. On January 28th at 85. Read the Gleaner Obituary
Keith Shervington, sportsman
and former Secretary General of the Jamaica Olympic Association.
February 12th at 90. Read the Gleaner Obituary
Gladys, Lady Bustamante, who
possibly affected Jamaica's early political and trade union climate
more than any other woman. On 25th July at 97. Read our
Tribute to Lady B
Trevor Rhone, possibly
Jamaica's greatest playwright, creator of Smile Orange, Old Story
Time and the screenplay for The Harder They Come. On September 15th
at 69. Read the Gleaner Obituary
Wycliffe Bennett, Chairman of
the Ward Theatre Foundation, former Chairman of the Jamaica
Broadcasting Company and champion of theatre in Jamaica. October 5th
at 87. Read the Gleaner Obituary
Cecil "Sonny" Bradshaw, jazz
trumpeter and musical giant. Aside from being the last link to the
Big Band era, he was the innovator behind some of the country's
great musical events. '60s television's Teenage Dance Party, the
Tastee Talent Contest (decades before American Idol) and, more
recently, Jamaica's Jazz Festival. October 10th at 83. Read the Gleaner Obituary
Joan Delapenha, wife of legendary
sportsman and commentator, Lindy Delapenha, a wonderful lady, on
January 9th
Cecil Langford, of the Coffee Industry
Board on January 10th
Roy Reid, painter, on January 11th
Glenton Smith, sports doctor who worked
with the Jamaica Olympic
Association, the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association and the
Jamaica Football Federation as well as other sporting bodies.
January 12th at 52.
Wayne Brown,
Trinidadian born poet and journalist. On September 15th at 65.
E. G. Green, the
first Judge appointed to the Gun Court in 1974 and the first
Parliamentary appointed Ombudsman. On December 4th at 83.
Michael Pryce,
Journalist, whose varied career led him from news to sports to
current affairs working with the BBC, TVJ, Radio Jamaica, HOT 102
and CVM TV. On December 14th at 48.
Syd Bartlett,
champion footballer and a member of Jamaica's first World Cup team.
On December 19th at 70.
Kenneth Smith, Chief Justice from
1973-1985. On December 20th at 89.
Internationally, the
Earth
almost stopped spinning when
Michael Jacksonmoon-walked off the world stage on the 25th of July. Many other international figures
left us during the year.
Farrah Fawcett, Charlie's most famous
Angel
(in June at 62) and Patrick Swayze of Dirty Dancing
and Ghost
( in September at 57) both lost very public battles with cancer.
Mary Travers of
Peter, Paul and Mary
whose songs like Where Have All
the Flowers Gone? and Blowin' In The Wind were anthems of the 60s
(in September at 72). Teddy Pendergrass, the background music of
romance (in January at 59).Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the
Special
Olympics (in August at 88) closely followed by her brother,
Ted
Kennedy, the Elder Statesman of American politics (in August at 77).
Corazon Aquino, who ousted a dictator with "people power" (in July
at 76). Ed McMahon (in June at 86) and Karl Malden (in June at 97),
the second banana and the also starring, whose faces we always
recognise.
Walter Cronkite, the American reporter and possible the first "anchorman,"
who covered the news for longer than most of us have been alive (in
July at 92). The too young Brittany Murphy (in December at 32). And
so many others.
deciding he just couldn't take it anymore. The Bustamante
Hospital for Children was in need and someone should do something
about it and that someone should be him. On 3rd January the first
Shaggy & Friends Concert took place on the lawns of Jamaica House.
tundra. On 26th February, Newton crossed the
Finish Line, placing 13th out of 29 starters.
to reach the South Pole.
Unfortunately, on the 22nd November at the start of the
final leg, Kim-Marie was taken out of the expedition due to
extreme frostbite; had she continued she would have lost her
fingers.
Company celebrated forty-five years.
(in June at 62) and Patrick Swayze of
and Ghost
( in September at 57) both lost very public battles with cancer.
Mary Travers of
whose songs like Where Have All
the Flowers Gone? and Blowin' In The Wind were anthems of the 60s
(in September at 72). Teddy Pendergrass, the background music of
romance (in January at 59).Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the